Cops Spring Into Action When They See This Man Mowing His Lawn

By: Alexander Burns | December 6, 2018

Two deputies from Longview, Texas have challenged the negative stereotypes surrounding police after they generously helped a disabled war veteran mow his lawn, inspiring children in the community to help as well.

Mr. Robert Upshaw, a war veteran who has lost the use of both his legs, is bound to a wheelchair and struggles to complete even the most mundane everyday activities. Whilst Mr. Upshaw was struggling to mow his lawn, two deputies on duty, known as Deputy Duncan and Deputy Preston, were quick to offer their services and began to mow Mr. Upshaw’s lawn.

Shortly after, the story was posted to the Longview Police Department Facebook page, commending the deputies for their kindness.

The lengthy Facebook post presumably written by the Longview police chief, commended the officers, beginning by stating that despite the exhilaration of “high speed pursuits, foot chases, drug arrests, and arrests of someone who needs to be taken off the streets,” the simple “acts of kindness expose a brighter shine.”

The chief went writing that he was excited to see “a 27-year-veteran officer teaching a rookie officer, who is still in field training, that there is more to our profession that ‘catching the bad guys’.”

The post went on to read:

“We get out of our patrol car and interact with the community, build relationships, and take our profession to new levels. Our officers recognize when members of our community, like Robert Upshaw, are in need of a little help.

These are the moments I am proud to be a police officer, a police officer in Longview Texas. This act is not only a flicker of light in our community but a spark that is intended to reunite communities.”

This heartwarming story, according to the chief, is one of many of the good deeds police officers do that go unnoticed, stating, “I know there are more acts like this that are performed daily. Acts that neither myself or the community is aware of. Officers like to get recognition for the exciting arrests and good police work, but it is times like these that our profession really shines. The recognition is not the officers ambition. We like to do these great deeds and retreat to the next one without being seen.”

Not only did these two officers make Mr. Upshaw’s day by helping mow his lawn, Mr. Upshaw has revealed that the kind act inspired others in his neighborhood to also help out around his house and garden: “Robert told us the next day a group of kids from his old neighborhood came and trimmed his yard and trees.”

“These are the acts that build community,” the post read, with the story shedding a more positive light on police officers in a tumultuous time. With the controversy surrounding the recent shootings of a number of African-American citizens, police deaths in the line of duty are at an all-time high.

The kind act of officers like Deputy Duncan and Preston have painted the police force in a more positive light and have inspired more faith in America's law enforcement agencies.